Working with over fives - Playwork
Find out about playworker opportunities working with children over five.
Playworkers facilitate play opportunities and activities for school-aged children between the ages of five and eleven, outside usual school hours.
Where you could work
Out of school / playwork settings are usually based in or near schools and are run by the school, by private businesses or local voluntary organisations. They may include:
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Play buses
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Youth and community centres
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Church halls
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Adventure playgrounds
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Breakfast clubs usually based in schools and open before school (7am – 9am)
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After school clubs usually based in schools and open after school (3pm – 6pm)
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Holiday playschemes usually open during the school holidays (8am – 6pm)
What the job might entail
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Providing children with a safe place to play
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Planning and organising activities
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Leading play activities
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Encouraging children to develop social skills and discover more about the world through play
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Listening to children, building relationships with them, fostering their self-esteem, encouraging independence, helping them when they ask
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Creating opportunities for children to try out new activities / experiences
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Sometimes simply spending time being quiet and relaxed
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Liaising with parents, carers and relevant professionals
- Administration – for example keeping records
Opportunities for career progression
There are good opportunities for promotion, and with further qualifications and training you can progress to being a qualified playworker, supervisor, deputy manager or manager of a play facility. Find out more about the roles and qualifications in the childcare sector.